This week we get a new state Legislature. Unfortunately, the national GOP trend missed Massachusetts, so it’s going to look a lot like the old one.

Republicans added one House member in November, which only makes up for the loss of the Peabody special election in 2016.

As President Donald Trump works to provide tax relief at the federal level to grow the economy, it’s going to be a bumpy year for us in the Bay State.

For the past several months, state revenue has not reached the expected levels. Of course, this gives Bacon Hill Democrats every reason to pass tax increases.

Reducing spending goes against their grain and the special interest groups they are obligated to.

Why else do Democrat leaders like Pat Haddad (D-Somerset) have so much money in their war chest when they haven’t had an opponent in years?

Not only will the new Legislature easily pass the language for the 2018 ballot question to create a graduated income tax — which voters have rejected — they will also pass new tax increases. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of which one.

There will be additional taxes on pot, but that’s the least of our worries. They’ll most likely consider new taxes on services, a mileage tax or closing so-called tax loopholes. Knowing them, they might do all of the above.

During the Patrick administration, the Department of Revenue estimated $27 billion in tax expenditures or loopholes. What’s a tax expenditure? It’s any items or services that are not taxed. Democrats consider that a state expenditure for not taking more of our money. That’s how entitled they feel to our wallets. Their biggest loophole is the exemption on food and clothing — which amounts to billions in uncollected tax revenue.

You probably believe they would never tax food because it’s essential. Never say never in Taxachusetts.

They will disguise it as a sugar tax to help us weak-minded people make wiser choices and our children stop eating lollipops.

In their world, it’s for the greater good. If they close the tax loophole on sugar, we will eventually get a salt tax.

Gov. Charlie Baker cannot stop them with a veto because they have enough votes to override. That’s why we need more Republicans!

Our only other alternative is a ballot question. And though Democrats think it’s clever to raise taxes during a non-election year to avoid the wrath of voters, it still gives us time to collect signatures for a repeal effort.